Shaft device use for tape dispenser stands

ABSTRACT

A shaft device used for tape dispenser stands so that a roll of tape may be retained and dispensed. The shaft device comprises two shaft casings, two springs and two covers. Each of the two shaft casings is a hollow body. The closed end of each shaft casing has an angled upper surface and an angled lower surface. The flange of each shaft casing is provided with a transverse groove. Each cover is positioned at the end opposing the corresponding casing, and each spring is retained in the space between a shaft casing and the corresponding cover. Each of the two covers is disposed at an outer end, and each of the two shaft casings is fixedly disposed into the corresponding inner surface of the space between the two supports. With the two springs and the two covers in place, each shaft casing can compress outwards towards the corresponding cover to allow a user to insert a roll of tape into or remove it from the dispenser stand. Also, after a roll of tape is properly inserted, the two shaft casings can extend inwards to hold the roll of tape in place and then can allow the dispensation of the tape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is a shaft device used for tape dispensers. The shaft device includes a shaft casing that can compress outwards and extend inwards. The shaft device makes the insertion of a roll of tape easier, and the shaft casing may be fixedly held in place.

[0003] 2. Prior Art

[0004] Tape is widely used in packaging and sealing and in all kinds of trades. The most well known kind of tape is the office-used tape, which is usually wound on a center core to form a roll of tape. When in use, such roll is usually inserted into a dispenser, which typically has a center shaft, which holds and retains such roll of tape so that a piece of tape may be dispensed by pull. Such dispenser includes two types: hand-held dispenser and desktop dispenser, which is also known as tape dispenser stand. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the tape dispenser stand 1 is a relatively heavy stand 11, which weighs the stand down when a piece of tape is dispensed. The dispenser stand 1 has a shaft unit 12, through which a roll of tape 2 is inserted. The center shaft 13 of the shaft unit 12 pivotally rests on the two notches 14 on each inner wall of the stand 11. The center shaft 13 can freely move in and out of the two notches so that a roll of tape 2 may be inserted in or removed from the stand 11. In use, a user pull out a certain length of the tape 2 via the pivotal rotation of the center shaft 13 and such piece of tape may be cut by a cutting blade 15 disposed at the front end of the stand 11. Though such conventional tape dispenser stand allows a user to dispense tape, such stand has a main disadvantage, which is the loose engagement between the center shaft 13 and the two notches 14. The upper portions of the two notches 14 are open so that the center shaft 13 can freely move in and out of the two notches. Though such two notches 14 allow easy replacement of a roll of tape, these two notches 14 also allows the center shaft 13 to move out of the two notches when a user pulls out a piece of tape. This unwanted disengagement between the center shaft 13 and the two notches 14 causes quite some inconvenience to a user.

[0005] With the relatively heavier weight and larger volume of the stand, such conventional stand allows a user to pull out a piece of tape and cut it by using only one hand. A pull from a user may cause the roll of tape 2 to move towards the cutting blade 15. If the center shaft 13 of the roll of tape 2 is sufficiently held in the notches when such pull takes place, the roll of tape 2 will be able to remain in the notches. If the center shaft 13 of the roll of tape 2 is not sufficiently held in the notches, the center shaft 13 and hence the roll of tape 2 will move around in a random manner in the notches 14 due to such pull and the center shaft 13 may ultimately disengage from the notches 14 and hence the stand 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Such disengagement between the center shaft 13 and the two notches 14 would discontinue the operation of the dispensation of the tape and would cause quite some inconvenience to a user. The present invention is invented to overcome such disadvantage. The present invention is a shaft device, which include two shaft casings, two springs and two covers. The closed end of each shaft casing has an angled upper surface and an angled lower surface, and the flange of each shaft casing is provided with a transverse groove. Each of the two covers is disposed at an outer end, and each of the two shaft casings is fixedly disposed at an inner end. To support and hold a roll of tape in place, each of the two shaft casings is fixedly disposed into the corresponding inner surface of the space between the two supports and is allowed to move transversely towards and away from the corresponding cover. Each spring is disposed in the space between a shaft casing and the corresponding cover so as to provide the returning force after the two shaft casings move towards their corresponding covers. In use, first, a user inserts a roll of tape into the space between the supports of the stand, and the tape presses against the shaft casings.

[0007] Now, the shaft casings move outwards towards the covers to allow the tape to slide downwards. When the center of the roll of tape is aligned with the shaft casings, the spring will move the shaft casings inwards to hold the roll of tape in place. Now, the insertion is completed, and the roll of tape is sufficiently supported and is allowed to rotate about the shaft casings. Also, when a user wants to remove the roll of tape from the stand for tape replacement, he can do so by pulling it upwards (the shaft casings will move outwards when a roll of tape is pulled upwards). The angled upper surface and lower surface of each shaft casing can provide easier insertion and removal of a roll of tape. Also, such angled upper and lower surfaces can provide better contact between the shaft casings and a roll of tape; therefore, the shaft casings can better hold the roll of tape in place. To prevent the shaft casings from rotating, a transverse groove is provided in the flange of each shaft casing and a small protrusion is provided at the corresponding location in the corresponding hollow portion of the stand. With the two grooves and the two matching small protrusions, the two shaft casings can only move transversely or sideways and can not rotate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional tape dispenser stand, showing a roll of tape has been inserted into such stand;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a side view of a shaft device of the present invention, showing the shaft device of the present invention has been installed in a tape dispenser stand;

[0010]FIG. 3A to 3C are the cross-sectional views of the shaft casing and the hollow portion of the present invention and the assembled condition of the shaft casing and the hollow portion;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a side view of tape dispenser stand installed with a shaft device of the present invention, illustrating how a roll of tape is inserted into the stand.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2 to 4. The dispenser stand 3 has two side supports 31, and a hollow portion 32 is provided in each of these two side supports. A shaft casing 4 (located at the inner side), a cover 5 (located at the outer side) and a spring 6 (located in the middle) are disposed in each of the two hollow portions. Each shaft casing 4 is a hollow body with one open end and one closed end. The closed end of each shaft casing has an angled upper surface and an angled lower surface 41. The open end have a flange 42, and each shaft casing extends into the hollow portion 32 of the corresponding side support and rests on a side wall of the hollow portion 32. The engagement legs 51 of each cover have a flange design and are flexible so that each cover may be inserted into and removed from the hollow portion 32 easily. As illustrated in FIG. 3A to 3C, a groove is provided in the flange 42 of each shaft casing and a small protrusion 33 is provided at the corresponding location on the inner surface of the hollow portion 32. When each small protrusion 33 engages with the groove 43, the shaft casing can only be allowed to move transversely or sideways (can not rotate). In use, first, a user inserts a roll of tape 2 into the space between the shaft casings of the stand 3 and the tape 2 presses against the angled surfaces 41 of the shaft casings 4. Now, the shaft casings move towards the two outer sides and the roll of tape 2 enters the space between the shaft casings. When the center 23 of the roll of tape 2 is aligned with the shaft casings 4, the spring will move the shaft casings 4 inwards to hold the roll of tape 2 in place. Also, when a user wants to remove the roll of tape 2 from the stand 3, he can do so by pulling it upwards. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shaft device used for tape dispenser stands, comprising two shaft casings, two covers and two springs, wherein: Each of the two shaft casings being a hollow body with an open end and a closed end, the closed end forming a protrusion, the closed end of each shaft casing having an angled upper surface and an angled lower surface, the open end has a flange; Each of the two covers having a closed end and an open end, the open end being provided with a multiple of engagement legs; and Each shaft device being disposed in a side support, a hollow portion being provided in each of the two supports, each shaft casing extending beyond the space between the two supports, each of the two covers being fixedly disposed at an outer end, each spring being retained in the space between a shaft casing and the corresponding cover.
 2. The shaft device of claim 1, wherein the flange of each shaft casing has a transverse groove.
 3. The shaft device of claim 2, wherein a small protrusion which can mate with the said groove is provided on the inner surface of the corresponding hollow portion. 